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DCF workers protest 'caseload' crisis, cite Oliver case

By Rick Sobey, rsobey@lowellsun.com

Updated:
04/22/2014 05:51:12 PM EDT

Workers for the state Division of Children and Families protest outside the Lowell DCF offices on Tuesday. (SUN/RICK SOBEY)

LOWELL -- Another child will die on the state's watch unless the Department of Children and Families (DCF) takes immediate action, according to DCF social workers, investigators and supervisors said during an informational picket on Tuesday.

DCF employees on Tuesday described a "worsening caseload crisis," days after the body of 5-year-old Jeremiah Oliver was found at the side of an interstate in Worcester County last week. The boy had been missing for months. A social worker had missed routine visits with the Fitchburg family.

"We're at a point where people don't know what to do and are worried about children and families," said Anthony Labo, DCF investigator at the Lowell office. "Really, we just want to see the agency push for more workers.

"We're at a point where more kids are going to get hurt, and there are going to be more tragedies in the news, like the Oliver case," Labo added. "And we're trying to prevent that. We need more workers."

About three dozen DCF employees, represented by SEIU Local 509, picketed during their 30-minute lunch break outside the DCF Lowell Area Office at 33 East Merrimack St.

There are about 5,000 more DCF cases compared to this time last year, but the number of workers has remained at 1,861, according to Jason Stephany, director of communications for SEIU. He credited the state for bringing on 122 employees at the beginning of the year, but he emphasized that hasn't kept up with attrition.

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In Lowell's office, there are 150 more cases than this time last year, but there are six fewer workers, Stephany added.

"We have a caseload crisis, and it shouldn't be acceptable when children safety is at risk," he said on Tuesday. "We need action on these issues, we need additional staff, we need additional resources to keep kids safe."

For more on this story, read Wednesday's edition of The Sun and visit www.lowellsun.com.

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